Eat to the Beat: Celebrate Record Store Day with Dave Grohl’s Mango Salsa

Record Store Day, an event designed to get music fans from around the world out to support their favourite record stores, happens this Saturday (April 18). What started in 2007 as a way to help boost the independent record stores that were feeling the pinch of the overall decline in physical record and CD sales has turned into a huge celebration of the resurgence of vinyl records. Every year bands and labels release special Record Store Day only releases, which are only available at participating Record Store Day stores. Which gets people out and buying records, whether they’re looking for a heart-shaped 7″ of Father John Misty’s “I Love You, Honeybear” or a bronze and pastel pink 7″ of Gram Parsons and The Lemonheads each doing “Brass Buttons” (note: hands off, that’s the one I’m after).

Record hunters get thirsty and this year’s day’s official brew is Dogfish Head Beer, but for our purposes, we’re also excited that the 2015 Record Store Day Ambassador is none other than noted foodie, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. Grohl, who is known for his love of barbequing (he’s a steak fanatic, apparently), appeared as a judge on an episode of Top Chef way back in 2008. As someone on the forefront of the analog revolution in all aspects (didn’t the Foo Fighters do an in-person pre-sale for their upcoming tour so that kids could experience of actually sleeping over night in front of a Ticketmaster outlet?), we’re glad that he has a love for home cooked food too.

So, after you go and pick up your records, why not celebrate with some Grohl-approved grub? We found this recipe for Dave’s Pork Tenderloin with Mango Salsa and while the idea of pairing salsa with a berry syrup glazed tenderloin is really intriguing, record store shoppers may want to kick back with a bottle of that official beer and a nice bowl of salsa to eat with chips. I monkeyed with the recipe a bit and subbed the mint for tarragon (because that’s what I had and I love the licorice flavour of tarragon paired with the sweet mango), but mint would also be delicious, so use whatever you have. Whip yourself up some, serve the chips in a vinyl record bowl and celebrate your love for music that you can actually hold in your hands.

Dave Grohl’s Mango Salsa

2 mangoes, peeled and diced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
1/2 red onion, diced
zest and juice of one lime
1 tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped (note: do not chop too finely as it causes the tarragon to over oxidize and taste a little off)
salt to taste

Place all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and toss until combined. Serve with chips or alongside meat or fish. Makes about three cups.